Over 2,500 gather at Vidhana Soudha for 12th International Yoga Day
More than 2,500 yoga enthusiasts, including government officials and citizens, gathered in front of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on Sunday to celebrate the 12th International Yoga Day. The state-level event, themed 'Yoga for Healthy Ageing', aimed to promote wellness and inclusivity across the city, with activities extending from administrative centers to the local jail.
Participants at the landmark venue performed the common yoga protocol in unison. This year’s theme focused on the role of yoga in promoting lifelong health, resilience, and holistic well-being across generations, with a special emphasis on the elderly.
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot inaugurated the programme. Addressing the gathering, Gehlot noted that while modern lifestyles have brought comfort, they have also triggered physical and mental challenges. He shared that his daily practice of yoga and pranayama keeps him energetic and healthy.
Health Minister UT Khader also spoke at the event, calling for yoga to become a daily habit rather than a one-day affair. Khader highlighted Karnataka's rich yoga heritage, noting that the state is home to the historic Mysore Yoga tradition pioneered by the Wodeyar dynasty, as well as S-VYASA, the world's first Yoga University.
The event saw attendance from Kannada film stars, including Vasishta N Simha, Hariprriya, and Shruti Hariharan.
Local residents from various parts of the city participated in the mass session. Gangamma, a teacher from Eshwara Academy in Rajajinagar, accompanied seven Scouts and Guides from her school. She noted the discipline of nearly 500 children from different schools who performed yoga together.
Another participant, Lakshmi, represented the 'Heartfulness' organisation, which had around 40 to 50 members attend the venue. Jagadish Reddy, a resident of Electronics City who has practiced under the Patanjali Yoga Samiti for 16 years, stated that yoga helps him maintain a cool head and handle difficult situations calmly.
Beyond the main gathering at Vidhana Soudha, organizers also conducted yoga sessions for prisoners inside the local jail, extending the wellness practices to diverse sections of society.
